Essays and Research Papers on American Literature

A 5 page paper which examines the women who are central figures in each story, considers their similarities and differences, and also discusses the significance of point of view and setting in these stories. No additional sources are used.

A 7 page paper which considers Hemingway’s first novel, specifically, the concepts of “the lost generation” and “expatriate” and also provides an analysis of major characters. Bibliography lists 6 sources.

A 5 page discussion of the literary approach of this author in his portrayal of one of the most reprehensible aspects of human society, racism. Emphasizes that Lee’s deeper societal message is made more palatable through his employment of two parallel plots, that of the children of a small community and that of their ...

A 5 page paper which examines the novel’s important issues, describes the major characters, their roles as intended by the author, analyzes what makes them important, what they symbolize, and concludes by discussing the purpose of the novel. No additional sources are used.

Probably every living being has asked themselves whether or not they are content with their lives as it has enfolded before them. This 5 page paper explores the lives of the characters in Edith Wharton's novella, Ethan Frome. No additional sources are listed.

In The Fountainhead, the protagonist, Howard Rourk, represents the view of the objectivist. He is contrasted with the character, Peter Keating, who represents what Rand calls a 'second hander'. This 5 page paper argues that the conflict of first handers against second handers is fought primarily between Rourk and Keating but is strengthened by the allusion to the ...

A 5 page paper which discusses the character and role of Tom Sawyer in the last half of Mark Twain's "The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn." No additional sources cited.

As William Wordsworth defined romanticism, it included three aspects: culture, nature and memory. This 5 page paper argues that f these elements are present in the short story, The Bear, by William Faulkner. Bibliography lists 3 sources.

A 7 page paper which discusses aspects of Margaret Atwood's "Surfacing" and Herman Hesse's "Demian." The first portion of the paper compares and contrasts the journey to individuation found in each work, also addressing differences that are apparent in terms of gender. The second section of the paper discusses Hesse's work as it relates to Jung's notions concerning the ...

A 5 page essay that examines Dan O'Brien's novel Brenda Prairie (1996). The writer focuses on chapter 13 and offers a summation, as well as an analysis of how O'Brien utilizes characterization, setting and action. No additional sources cited.

This 6 page paper looks at various aspects of A Farewell to Arms. Themes of love, sexuality and death are each explored in the context of this work, but the paper also looks at some of Hemingway's other writings. Bibliography lists 11 sources.

William Faulkner’s “A Rose for Emily”: This 5-page essay examines one the author’s most critically acclaimed and ‘twisted’ short stories. In addition, an analysis of the plot and his remarkably vivid characterizations is provided. Like the townspeople, the reader is fooled as Faulkner’s sleight-of-hand is at its masterful best. Bibliography lists 3 sources. ...

5 pages. In these two compelling stories by Sherwood Anderson, both included in the book, Winesburg, Ohio, the reader will find that Anderson tends to stick to a rather depressing or grotesque theme throughout the stories. By examining both the story Hands as well as Tandy, this thesis will show that while there is no doubt that Anderson ...

A 6 page research paper that examines the factors that influenced Arthur Miller in writing his award-winning play Death of a Salesman. The writer argues that the main inspiration to Miller was the post-WWII American culture. Bibliography lists 8 sources.

This 16 page paper considers four books as a reflection of the perception of American Society. The four works span time, but can all be seen as criticising the United States. The writer looks at how the works criticise popular culture, point out greed and acknowledge the self interest of the individuals that makeup society. ...

This 10 page report discusses the racial characteristics and race issue that are repeatedly presented in “The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn.” The controversy regarding use of the novel in the classroom is that it most certainly does present racist viewpoints in terms of language and attitude but to suggest that this lessens its impact as American literature veers into the realm ...

A 5 page essay that analyzes Harper Lee's use of characterization in her famous novel. The writer argues that Lee shows the terrible flaws, as well as the strengths, of the townspeople, presenting a fair and accurate picture of the distorted race relations that characterized Southern life during the first half of the twentieth century. ...

A 5 page paper which examines the repercussions of the so-called “good times” of the Jazz Age of the 1920s. No additional sources are used.

A 5 page paper which examines the role of justice in each literary example. No additional sources are used.

(5 pp) One of the current social" buzz words" is community. It is spoken of with almost the reverence of a saint being pierced with a sword. Somehow in this new century, the idea of a group of people, in a given geographic area caring for each other is perceived as an ...

People change. That's the nature of human behavior. This 5 page paper asserts that in The Color Purple by Alice Walker, the characters of Celie and Albert grow through the experiences of the story, providing examples from the book. No additional sources are listed.

Today we like to pretend that we are all individuals, even while we are busily following the trends or the ideas of someone else. There are too many choices, or we don't have time, we whine. This 6 page discussion will look at three distinct individuals of the nineteenth century and determine how they are ...

A Raisin in the Sun: This 7-page essay offers an in-depth overview of this critically acclaimed play by Lorraine Hansberry. In addition, a number of its social messages, themes, dramatic action and literary merits are discussed. For some, the ideals embodied in “The American Dream” are often reduced to “The American Nightmare.” Bibliography ...

August Wilson’s “Fences”: This 5-page essay examines Wilson’s celebrated play, “Fences” while exploring its social relevance, dramatic action, and merits as both a literary work and social commentary. In this universal piece about family values and formative life experiences, the playwright transcends the categorization of race to demonstrate yet again that although his stories ...

A 5 page paper which discusses various aspects of the character of Nick Carraway in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby." The paper examines how Nick represents the light and Gatsby the dark side of mankind, how Nick offers up an examination of American morals, and how Nick stands to present us with a look at society from various ...